Oven Bake

I like spreading Quark on my morning slice of bread and topping it with jam, but you can also mix it with salt and herbs and dollop it next to boiled potatoes for a light meal. Using buttermilk will result in skim Quark, which is best for baking recipes. If you want a creamier Quark to eat as is, simply stir a little heavy cream into the Quark to loosen and enrich it. (Mixed with high-quality fruit preserves, this makes for a luxurious little snack.)

This is the recipe given to me by Pierrette Lejanou. The addition of walnut oil at the last moment brightens the taste of the beans. Begin preparations two days before you plan to serve the cassoulet.

My mom's meat loaf is inarguably better than yours, but this is not my mom's meat loaf recipe. This one is an amalgam, intended to evoke all the important meat loaves in my life—and there have been many.

Zucchini ribbons take the place of pasta in this naturally gluten-free vegetarian casserole.

Make these gluten-free quinoa and sweet potato "muffins" ahead for a quick breakfast or energizing mid-day snack.

My Tater Tot hotdish has the body of a chicken pot pie, a dish that I loved growing up, long before I knew the existence of Tater Tot hotdish. But a close examination reveals that the only real differences are the subbing of chicken for ground beef and the use of a homemade cream of chicken soup instead of mushroom soup. I don’t think this will offend a hotdish purist.

All your efforts will be rewarded the moment you pull this custardy eggplant slathered in tangy sauce, and a crispy, cheesy top from the oven.

Meatloaf needs no introduction, but this one gets kicked up a notch with the Chinese-inspired flair of fresh ginger, scallions, and a hoisin sauce glaze. It's delicious and so simple to make.

Other tender herbs such as cilantro, dill, and/or tarragon can be used instead for this salsa verde recipe. Though the breadcrumbs don’t stay crisp, they give body and subtle crunch to the sauce.

Want comfort food on demand? These family-friendly baked shells can be assembled ahead and refrigerated or frozen so they're ready to pop in the oven with no day-of work.

This robust dinner (or lunch!) salad is a little Southern, a little Southwestern and a lot delicious. Save time by using leftover cooked chicken from another meal or store-bought rotisserie chicken.

These pitas stuffed with herb-flecked turkey meatballs and dolloped with tangy tzatziki come together in about 30 minutes so they're perfect for weeknight dinners. The yogurt sauce can be made several days ahead or whipped up while the meatballs cook. The meatballs and tzatziki would also be delicious served over greens.

A spoon works fine for stuffing the manicotti noodles, but a piping bag—while it may seem fussy—makes quicker work of the assembly.

Bake a couple of these grown-up pizza pockets for dinner tonight and freeze the rest for later.

This gluten-free dish offers all the melty goodness of a mac 'n' cheese dinner, without the carb-heavy pasta.

I like to garnish soup with croutons—it’s a classic combo for a reason. Brioche is a good choice for making croutons because it’s so buttery, and the bacon lends a hint of smoky, savory flavor.

This healthier falafel dinner brings the Middle Eastern platter home with a tangy tahini sauce and an easy cabbage and tomato salad.

Forget croutons: crispy kale adds all the satisfying crunch you need to Caesar salad.